Anarchy at the AU

The antiuniversity now festival has some amazing events this year. The full programme is available at http://www.antiuniversity.org/ but here is our rundown of anarchist events at the AU!

Radical Ecology

The Anarchist Federation will present ideas from their new pamphlet on an anti-capitalist view of environmental issues, including both the root causes (spoiler alert: it’s capitalism) and the false solutions offered up as ways out of the crisis. We will have an introductory talk followed by a participatory discussion. http://programme.antiuniversity.org/id/radical-ecology

Decoding Chomsky: Making Sense of the Politics and Science of the World’s Best-Known Intellectual

Religious belief is still very strong in the world today, despite predictions that it would disappear with science and the development of a secular society. For many people, this is not a problem- we should be tolerant of the beliefs of others. After all, these beliefs are about things that we can’t prove or disprove and don’t really affect what happens in our society. Anarchists believe differently. Just as we reject other ‘masters’ such as the bosses or the State, so we reject any belief that looks towards an external authority for what to believe and how to live. In addition, these beliefs very much do affect society, eg views on abortion, homosexuality, gender and race. Throughout history people have used religion as a justification to oppress others, often with extreme violence, eg the slave trade, the Crusades and ISIS today. But how do we argue against religious beliefs? It is especially a problem when these beliefs are held by persecuted minorities and people who we are working with in unions and community campaigns. This discussion meeting will consider what anarchists reject religion and then open up the discussion about what strategies we can adopt for challenging religion in our society. http://programme.antiuniversity.org/id/no-gods-no-masters

Whatever Happened to the Revolution?

Most of our time is spent having to resist attacks on all fronts- bosses, the government, and all the general injustices of society. But many of us hold in our hearts a hope for a completely different society. Isn’t it time we put Revolution back at the top of the agenda? What do we need to do to make it a reality rather than just a vague hope at the back of our minds? Anarchist communists believe firmly in the possibility of working class revolution. This talk/discussion will first present anarchist communist ideas on revolution before opening up to general discussion about revolution today. Some of the questions to discuss are: What do we mean by revolution? What steps can we take now? What are the obstacles? http://programme.antiuniversity.org/id/whatever-happened-to-the-revolution

Anarchism and Class: Is it still Relevant?

The division of society into two main classes, the ruling class and the working class, has always been fundamental to an anarchist analysis of capitalism. However, this basic division is now considered to be too simplistic and many now argue that there are other divisions in society that are more relevant. This meeting will consider what class struggle anarchists mean by class and why we think it is still a fundamental concept in understanding how society works and for building a movement for a revolution. It will also consider how the concept needs to be up-dated to fit with global capitalism today and not be used to mask other crucial societal divisions such as gender and race. http://programme.antiuniversity.org/id/anarchism-and-class:-is-it-still-relevant

Anarchism for Beginners

Anarchism is often represented in the media as meaning chaos and disorder. But nothing could be further from the truth. This meeting, presented by a long-term active anarchist, will explain in simple terms what anarchism is, its different forms, what it wants to achieve, and how it might deal with difficult issues for a future society such as police and prisons. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. http://programme.antiuniversity.org/id/anarchism-for-beginniers

Anarchist Fitzrovia: Walking Tour

Visit all the hot spots of anarchist Fitzrovia. See where Frank Kitz, a leading light in the Socialist League, met with others and downed a pint or two in the process. Visit the sites of Louise Michel’s Free School, the German anarchist Autonomie Club, Lilyan Evelyn’s anarchist Ferrer School, the haunts of the celebrated Italian anarchist Errico Malatesta, the soup kitchen set up by refugees from the Paris Commune. Goggle at the building that housed the (in)famous Malatesta Club of the 1950s. See where anarchist sympathiser and artist Augustus John drank. Stand outside The grocer shop of Albert Richard, hero of the Paris Commune, who sold only red beans and rejected reactionary white beans. Linger at the newsagents run by Armand Lapie, scene of doctrinal disputes. Pause at the spot where the colourful anarchist Xo d’Axa played his barrel organ. All this and much more. http://programme.antiuniversity.org/id/anarchist-fitzrovia:-walking-tour